Annotated chess game

GA is here! game

I like that. As I know how tough ION is.

I would've answered with 1...Nc6 to allow 2...e4 But, I learned that this is the most common response in a recent consultation game because the majority voted on this move. We transposed, though, on the next move.

I think it can, if ION decides to play 2...e5. The idea being is that after 1.c4 e5, I've seen 2.Nf3 Nf6 which would lead to the same position. But, this won't happen here, since he played 2...e6, instead.

I think this is called a Reti - very similar to an English.

Now that makes sense since Glenda means your Q. From that, I figured out then that Sir Lollabout is the same as steed, Knight.

Better then what I would've been able to come up with.

Which is the right way to go: the best counter to a flank action is a response in the centre.

Worth noting that the GA is not always accurate. I'd probably leave it up to Fritz, but I know that they've also made mistakes. According to TA, Stockfish is the best way to go, but I don't know how to download. And, if I were to play around with it too much, it could fry my computer.

This really is a mistake. I was thinking of 9...Ba6 - the right move as it turns out. I don't recall now why I misliked it, but mislike it I did and chose this instead. From henceforth I don't think I ever quite got an equal game.

Ba6 is a much more forcing move! threatens the WQ (doesnt have many places to go) then after Bxf1 stops white castling short!

Which I like a lot.

By now I already didn't like this game. I think my pessimism henceforth affected my play.

Interesting because I'd castle before accepting any exchanges. But, I'm the kind of person that just likes to castle early, so when given the chance, I often do it. Although, as you imply, you can castle into an attack, and based on your note, this is probably what would happen.

For the doubled pawn, Black has a target at d4. The question was whether it could be exploited. That meant I had to keep a minor piece on d5 if I could. That didn't look like a complete 'gimme', sad to say.

Out of interest, I'm wondering what would happen, if you had allowed a R invasion on c2. The reason behind this is because I would've castled which would've allowed it. With that being said, I wouldn't be worried about this, but I see that this probably would've costed you the game, based on what you note.

Well played, Jo! The very move I hoped you wouldn't find. With the queens off, moves like this are much easier to contemplate. I could have viewed the future of this game with a whole deal more confidence after 19.0-0 Rc4.

In this position, I would've played the same thing and for the same reason. 2 rooks on one file are known to be dangerous, as Coach Stockel stressed.

At this point, I really didn't want to exchange rooks, but discovered I had really no choice. After 20...Rac8 21.Rhc1 h6 22.Bf1, ...Rxc2ch is forced, with 23.Rxc2 Rxc2ch 24.Kxc2 because I was never going to cede the c-file to a White rook. By now I knew for certain I was never going to win this game, and even a draw looked problematical.

I think the reason is that ION didn't want to allow you to double up.

Quite right. See my previous.